Electric switch



Feb. 5 1924 I H. CATLIN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jlily '7, 1922 ETJ mvENToR Patented Feb. 5, 1924. Y,

um'rED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOYT CATLIN, O FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNCTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application mea my 7, 1922. serial nals'zszs.

To (LZZ whom 25.mcy concern:

Be it known that I, HOYT CATLIN, a citizen of the United States votAmerica, residingat Fairfield, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification. n

My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to a switch installation comprising a pair of switches controlled by a single operating device. The invention may lbe embodied specifically in a Vswitch of the type shown in the copending application o George B. Thomas, filed November 23, 1921, Ser. No. 517 ,240, and my object is to provide means for preventing the operation of one fof4 the related switches when desired.-

In the accompanying drawingst Fig. 1 isv a Vertical section through a switch in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig 3 is a perspective of the locking de- V19e;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the key for erating the lock; and

Fig. 5 is. a diagram illustrating an installation in whicha switch of the present character may be used to advantage.

While the present invention has diversiied utility, it is particularly applicable to switches used in hospital signal systems, in which adjacent each bed is arranged a main signal switch having associated therevvwith an auxiliary call switch, both of which may be operatedv from the bed. The main switch ordinarily controls a silent signal circuit, as for example aV signal light L, while the auxiliary switch controls an audible signal, such as a bell B. It is possible to repeatedl call an attendant by' repeatedly closing the ell circuit, when there is a failure of response to the signal light set by the closing of the .main switch. Experience has proven that on occasion it is desirable to prevent the operation ofthe audible signal, since with patients of a certain type the bell si nal is rung with distracting insistence. he present invention is designed to provide means for preventin the operation of the switch which contro s the audible signal, switch while maintaining the silent call free for operation. The invention lwhen the latter is swung 1n may be embodied in switches of various' tion corresponds to that illustrated in the Thomas lapplication vabove mentioned, and

, comprises a cup-shaped insulating body 6 of the flush type carried by a supporting yoke 7, by means of' which it may be mounted in anoutlet box (not shown) of common type, and over which is arranged a cover plate 8. The switch chamber houses a main switch 'mechanism which may be of any suitable character, that indicated being of the toggle type, and comprising switch blades 9'carried by a yoke 10 which is biased bythe toggle spring 11 through the manipulation of the operating lever 12.' The latter is pivoted at 13 on the frame and has an outwardly projecting thumb piece 14, to which is connected a pull cord 15 by which` the switch may be operated by the patient .in al direction to vthrow the switch blades 9 into circuit closing position, and thus to operate the silent signal circuit.

`Also mounted on the insulating bod, is'

17 which control the audible signal circuit.`

The contacts 16 and 17 are normally spaced apart to maintain this circuit open, but the contact 17 may be depressed into circuit closing position by a plunger 18 normally held by the spring 19 in inactive position, but provided with a head 20 which underlies the wing 21 on the operating lever 12 the direction of the arrow X to the position in which the silent signal circuit is closed. The lever 12 is susceptible of further displacement in the same direction by a further pull on the cord 15. Upon such further movement, thewing v 21 de-presses the plunger 18 and thus forces the contact 17 of the. auxiliaryswitch intoy l engagement with itscooperating contact 17, thus closing the audible signal circuit.

To accomplish the object which I have above set forth, I mount in theV yoke 7 adjacent the plunger a movable lock plate 22 carried at the lower end of a spindle 23, the outer end 24 of which is provided with facets to afford a non-circular contour adapted to be engaged by the correspondingly shaped recess ,in the stem 25 of the lock key 26. `ln order to permit access to the operating end of the spindle an aperture 27 is formed in the face plate 8, and if desired the stem 23 may be extended up into this aperture, The spindle is held in position in the yoke i by any suitable means, such as a spring washer 28 engaging the reduced neck 29 above the yoke.

The lock plate 22 is shaped with respect to the adjacent portion oi' the porcelain body of the switch, which limits the throw of the plate. rll`he latter is cut away at 3() to clear the plunger head 20, and itsl associated spring abutment washer 3l, when the lock plate is moved to the position in which it is halted by the impin'gement of its margin 32 against the adjacent portion of vthe switch body. On the contrary, when the lock plateis turned to the position in which it is halted by the impingement otits margin 33 against the switch body, lthe plate lies beneath the head 2O and washer 3l of the plunger 18. ln this position it blocks .the downward movement of the plunger,

and the auxiliary switch therefore cannot be closed. While it is always possible for the patient to operate the silent 'signal switch, it is thus within the attendants control to prevent the operation of the audi-` bleJ signal.

rlhe value of the arrangement becomes more apparent in a system such as that illustrated 1n Fig. 5, which indicates the usual type ofinstallation. As will be noted, the call bell B is connected in the circuit of a group of signal switches, such for instance as may be used in a hospital ward. 'llt is thus apparent that the audible signal switch may be 'locked against actuation by the attendant at any particular bed without preventing the operation of this signal at any of the switches for` other beds in the ward.

The full advantage of the system is thusA maintained. v

As above stated, the invention is applicable to other types of switches than that shown, and my claim of invention is therefore not limited to this particular type of fitting.'

I claiml. An electric switch comprising a main control switch, an operating .member therefor, an auxiliary switch having a circuit closer actuated by movement of said operating member while in the circuit closing" position of the main switch, and means for preventing the actuation of said auxiliaryy switch without affecting the operation of the main control switch.v

2. An electric switch comprising a main control switch, an operating member therefor, an auxiliary switch having a circuit closer actuated by movement of said operating member while in the circuit closing position ci the main switch, and stop means Maasai sition of the main switch, and manually,

controlled stop means for preventing the actuation of said auxiliary switch without affecting the operation of the main control switch.

t. An electric switch comprising a main control switch, an operating member therefor, an auxiliary switch having a circuit closer actuated by movement of said operating member while in the circuit closing position of the main switch, and key actuated stop means for preventing the actuation of said auxiliary switch without affecting the operation of the main control switch. p ln a signalling` system having a plu` ralityof signal devices, a switch fitting for controlling said devices, said switch tting comprising a switch member for closing the circuit through certain of said signal devices, and an auxiliary switch member for vclosing the circuit through certain other of while permitting its movement to actuate l the first mentioned switch.

7.. In a signal system having independent signal devices, control means therefor comprising a series of pairs of switch devices, each pair adapted to control said independent signal devices, and means for rendering impotent, in any pair, the `switch controlling on-e of the signal devices without affecting theV operation of the other switch of saidpair, or 'the operation of any of the switches of the lremaining pairs.

8. An electric switch device" comprising a snap switch having only one on and one off position, an operating member therefor, a normally open auxiliary switch having a circuit closer actuated by the movement of said operating member while in the circuitclosing position of the main switch, and means for preventing the actuation of said -actuation of the auxiliary switch without afecting the operation of the main switch.

10. An electric switch device, comprising a main switch havin a toggle mechanism, an oscillating lever or operating the toggle mechanism, an auxiliary switch having an operating member shifted to circuit closing position by movement of the toggle operating lever while in the circuit-closing position of-the main switch,'and means or preventing displacement of the operating' member of the auxiliary switch without' affecting the operation of the main control switch.

11. An electric switch device, comprising a main control switch, an operating member therefor, an auxiliary switch having a spring-stressed circuit closer controlled by said operating member when the latter is in closed circuit position of the main switch, said spring-stressedcircuit closer automatically moving to predetermined position when disengagedv by said operating member, together with means for preventing the actuation of said auxiliar switch.

12. An electric switch evice, comprising a main control switch, a pivoted lever for operatin the same, an auxiliary switch having a p unger operatively engageable by said lever in closed-circuit position of the main switch, spring means normally maintaining said plunger in open-circuit position, and means for preventing circuit displacement of the plunger by the closing lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

HOYT CATLIN. 

